— 32 — 



II 



We shall now view the sturdy chieftain, Count Fron- 

 tenac — who, on his return to Quebec, in 1689, was 

 christened the Saviour of Canada — such as history 

 depicts him — undismayed, striding across the lofty 

 terrace of the Chateau Saint-Lous, surrounded by his 

 staff — but surveying with suppressed feeling, the 

 unwelcome Massachusetts fleet moored in the offing 

 below. Among the restless group of officers, one might 

 have readily recognized by their prominence as well 

 possibly as by their familly likeness, Charles LeMoyne's 

 four dauntless sons ; de Longueuil — de Sainte-Helene, 

 le brave des braves, destined to an early grave — de 

 Bienville and de Maricourt. There stands, silent, next 

 to the Count, Frontenac's trusty adviser and lieutenant, 

 town-major Franqois Prevost and close to him Villebon, 

 Valrenne, Clermont and Frontenac's clever secretary 

 Charles de Monseignat ; in the back ground and con- 

 versing in whispers may be noticed, some of the high 

 civil officials : Intendant de Champigny, Bene Chartier 

 de Lotbiniere, Euette d'Auteuil, the King's attorney 

 general and others : they exchanged with bated breath 

 their views, without daring to advise the impatient, 

 impetuous Governor. 



* 



T'is a cool, bright October m orning : a hoar frost 

 whitens the dropping roofs of the dwellings and ware- 

 houses of the lower town : the sun is just piercing 

 through a veil of autumnal vapour, hanging like a pall 

 over the foaming cataract of Montmorency : the fir, oak 

 and maple groves, sitting like a diadem, on the western 

 point of Orleans, opposite Quebec, are all aglow with 

 the gorgeous hues of the closing season, prior to the fall 



